Conspiracy Theories Involving the Knights Templar The conspiracy theory is a theory that involves a plan to ensure the creation of a one-world system. This means that there would only be a single ruling government and further, there would only be a single religion in the world. If not a single religion, then religion would be inexistent. Though not well known where conspiracy originated from, it has relations with the Knights Templar. Being a western military order of Christians, the Knights Templar was in existence during the middle ages for a period of about two centuries. During the time of its formation, European Knights were assigned the roles of offering protection to European travelers when they traveled in the middle east. However, the interests of the Knights was not to protect these travelers as they were supposed to but rather were interested in the search for holy remnants as well as other treasures. These were the relics that the European travelers left behind. Following a raid that they had in the temple of king Solomon, they escaped with many religious artifacts. This made the Knights templar to be very powerful. Accusations were that the Knights templar practiced Satanism. According to the conspiracy theories, the world is governed by some organization that is hidden. Further, accusations are that such organizations are devil worshipers. An example of these organizations is the Knights templar. Writers on conspiracy theories connect knight templar and free masons to devil worship because of the way they interpret the organization s doctrines. The conspiracy theory involving the Knights templar was created by Abbe Augustin (Barruel (abbé). (1798). The conspiracy theorists argue that the Knights worshiped Baphomet, a devil. 1 / 5
The Knights templar had their headquarters situated after the Solomon s ruins temple. According to conspiracy theorists, the Knights exhumed the remains of the temple of Solomon and what they found was the holy grail. This holy grail revealed a shocking experience that created the basis of undermining the church. Their belief was that after he was crucified, Jesus survived and together with Mary Magdalene they fathered children. This was a bloodline of divinity that governed most parts in Europe. however, the Knights had changed the rule and most parts in Europe looked upon their responsibility so as to survive. Further, this was assumed to take the role of fighting darkness forces. Though they might have suggested that they were of a new Christianity version, the knight templar had strange believes and practices. It is these practices that made them be seen as devil worshipers. For instance, they claimed that they had had discoveries that were based on Christianity for example John the Baptist s talking head. The organization also had secrets that related to masonry. These discoveries are the ones that created the basis for their wealth. This enabled them have great power as well as influence and thus started practicing these strange rites of Christianity (Knight, 2003). As a way of what they claimed to be worship, the Knights templar spat on the cross, a sign of rejecting Christ and worshipped heads. Some conspiracy theorists hold that word of the Knights templar being devil worshipers were accusations. They argue that the Knights were suppressed with cruelty because the church was jealous and felt threatened by the way the Knights templar held secrets and acquired great wealth. Because of this, the Church joined forces with the French monarchy that were jealous too and made plans to destroy the Knights (Nihil, 2010). In addition to this, they wanted to steal the wealth of these Knights. however, the templar received prior warnings and thus escaped in a convoy carrying all their treasures. This led to their settlement in Scotland where they established a new base of operation. Further, the Knights secretly established other societies including the freemasons. They also guided in the American discovery. In addition to this, the Knights templar guided in French as well as American revolutions. 2 / 5
Conspiracy theorists hold varied views about the existence and life of the Knights templar. In the years of their great wealth and treasures, the then king of France, king Philip IV owed them a lot. Because of the large debt that the king could not settle, he used the fact that they had a lot of secrecy in the practices that they held and also their strange rituals to expose them to cruelty and suffering. It is because of this that the king made declarations of a huge conspiracy of templar. This led to arrest of many members of the organization, they were tortured, and suffered executions. What transpired after this was the erasure of the king s debt. Even up to date, conspiracy theories on freemasonry are based on how secretive they are in their rituals. According to Clow (2010) the Knights developed their strange characteristics and rituals because they wanted to be famous as well as popular. This can be compared to the way in which even in the modern life, unions compete with one another and this they do by having the best parties and being more elite. Claims were that the Knights had some pre-christian origins. Clow argues that their secretive nature was just a way of appearing great and luring young people to join their organization. Since the pope was not superior in authority during those times in Europe, they had to compete for power with the France leaders. This competition for power is what led to Pope Benedict XI and Clement V making peace and uniting with king Philip in the bid to eliminate the Knights templar. The Knights templar influenced the rebuilt of the temple of Solomon and also had great influences on Israel and the temple mount. There are believes that the Knights templar was founded by a great saint, saint Bernard. The aim of founding this organization was to make a 3 / 5
discovery of the ark of covenant. There were believes that this ark of covenant had for the last time been seen within the temple. Thus, the Knights would take this ark from the temple (Cutting edge news, (2005). Further, by founding the Knights templar, conspiracy theorists argue that saint Bernard wanted to lead the people in the path towards ensuring that values of spirituality were born in the west. He also wanted to lead the process towards the building of a new temple. In conclusion, conspiracy holds various views of the Knights templar. Formed in 1118, the Knights were believed to be devil worshippers. This was because of the various mysterious myths that they held and their practices. However, some theorists argue that there was a move to eliminate them because the churches were jealous of their wealth and also because the then king of France, king Philip was in great debt with them. Though the group came to an end in 1312, its evils are still in existent toady. This group was succeeded by the freemasons. References Barruel (abbé). (1798). Memoirs illustrating the history of Jacobism. Volume 2. Clifford, R. (Translator). USA: New York Public Library. Clow, E. (2010). The Knights Templar and The Holy Fictionalization of History. Retrieved on April 18, 2011 from: http://www.skepticnorth.com/2010/01/the-knights-templar-and-the-holy-fict ionalization-of-history/. Cutting edge news, (2005). History's longest-running conspiracy? Retrieved on April 19, 2011 4 / 5
from: http://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n2040.cfm. Knight, P. (2003). Conspiracy theories in American history: an encyclopedia. Volume 1 USA: ABC-CLIO. Nihil, C. (2010). Conspiracy Theories: The Knights Templar and The Bloodline of Jesus. Retrieved on April 18, 2011 from: http://relijournal.com/religion/conspiracy-theories-the-knights -templar-and-the-bloodline-of-jesus 5 / 5